The petroleum industry has historically been a cyclical one, with swings in prices periodically spelling boom and bust for companies and their workforces.

But the current slump, which has seen prices fall by more than 60% since June 2014, is one of the worst ever for the sector, making job prospects that much less certain, especially for those just entering the field.

With that in mind, the co-founders of a Houston oil and gas management-services company recently announced a donation of $12 million to their alma mater, Texas A&M University, to help students in petroleum engineering better understand the business side of oil and gas production. (Read more)